Chapter – 20
Long live the king – SAO Integral fragments
I couldn't remember what exactly happened, all I remembered was that after the bright light engulfed me and Kirito, we were both standing in a pretty lit hallway, almost futuristic looking.
Yui: Daddy? Uncle?
As our sights cleared out, we both saw Yui in her usual form, a little girl with white dress.
Strea: Kirito? Darling?
Strea on the other hand, was still in her pixie form.
You: Hey Strea, don't worry were alright.
Kirito: Yui, do you know where we are?
Yui: I don't know, there is no mapping data available.
Kirito: Hmm… do you know where Asuna is?
Yui: Yes… *she closes her eyes* she's close, very close in fact… this way!
Yui begins running through the hall and we all follow her, Yui turned to a wall and pushed it, after that a passage was opened and we continued to follow her, through turn and turn, we all were getting close to something, until finally we made it to the final door.
Yui: Mrrmm! *she tries to break it*
Kirito: Hrrm! *he pushes as well*
You: Get back! Hrra!
Using my elbow, I push forward the door and it cracks open and found ourselves right outside.
Kirito: whoa… is this it? This is the top of the world tree?
You: there is no doubting it, this is what Strea and I saw.
Strea: Yes, though it was only for mere seconds.
Kirito: so I guess you were right (You), there is no city here. But why would they do this? Why would they make a fake story up just for players to never reach it?
You: I have a feeling that it's for something else… I don't know what it could be but I have a feeling it is not good. Whoever it is behind this must have connections and maybe even access to Argus's technology to make a game so close to SAO.
Kirito: I wonder just how they were able to make it in such short period of time.
You: oh I have a feeling that it wasn't short…
Kirito: what makes you think that?
You: just a hunch, I mean it is impossible for it to be created so fast.
Kirito: Hmm…
Yui: Daddy… *she grabs his arm*
Kirito: I know, I know, we gotta get Asuna out of here first.
You: maybe my sister is also with her. We can worry about this later, let's just get to them first.
Yui: Right.
We all began running these branch made paths to attempt reach the end, after a while of running, we saw the cage Strea and I saw earlier.
You: this it! That's the cage we saw!
Strea: and look, there is definitely someone in there!
Kirito: come on, we got no time to lose!
I don't know how much time passed but the sun was almost setting, needless to say, it took a while to reach her. Why would they make these paths so long to reach the cage? I wondered.
Anyways, we made it to the entrance of the cage and… from inside… we saw Asuna, holding Twilight in a bed.
Yui: Mommy!
Asuna: Uh!
Almost like as if she has woken up from a nightmare, Asuna gets up and stares at the cage. Tears fell down her face like waterfalls, in all my years in knowing her, ive never seen her cry in such happiness.
Asuna: Igh… Y-Yui…!
Yui teared down the cage with just a wave from her hand and with tears of joy, she ran to Asuna.
Yui: Mommy!
Asuna: Yui! *they both hug each other*
Asuna and Yui were crying in such happiness it was quite contagious. Asuna's appearance was also changed, her ears were the same as ours, pointy. She wore a white outfit with a long white skirt, a crop top showing her belly, and a red ribbon that went around the topmost part of her top that came together to make a bow. Her wings were also larger than ours.
Twilight: Big brother…?
You: Twilight!
Twilight jumped out of bed and ran towards me with her arms open. She was tearing up in my chest as I held her. Her appearance also changed, her hair was purple with pigtails, and she had a purple skirt with a purple vest on top of her long sleeved purple shirt.
You: Hey, hey… what's wrong?
Twilight: I… thought I was trapped here forever… that I would never see you again…!
You: come on, you think a little glitch would tear us apart. Nothing was ever gonna make me stop from searching my little sister. (Even though I was mostly drawn here from my Flutclight energy)
Twilight: do I really mean that much to you?
You: you're my family kid, my real family other than the other one I had.
Twilight: oh right… your biological family, right?
You: you know?
Twilight: Mom told me when I found out we weren't brother and sister related by blood. I am so sorry you had a bad big sister.
You: Well… in some ways, I am grateful to her because it's thanks to her… that I want to be a good big brother.
Twilight: *she smiles* Well… I guess I should also be grateful to her for giving me the best big brother I could wish for…
Strea: *she stands in my shoulders*
Strea standed on my shoulders and patted my cheek with a proud smile.
Hearing her say those words, I felt like I accomplished a goal in life. And even though there was still a lot more to do, as long as I know I am doing a good job… it will be worth it.
Kirito was still standing in the entrance and after a while, he entered the cage.
Asuna: *she wipes away her tears* Kirito.
Kirito: Asuna… *he aprouches her* sorry for taking so long.
Asuna: No… I knew that you would save me…
Asuna and Kirito both hugged each other with Yui between they're arms. A family finally reunited.
Asuna: *she looks at me* (You…)
You: Hey…
Asuna:*she extends her hand*
You: N-No, this is a moment between you and your family, my sister and I don't want to intrude.
Asuna: you and your sister are as much as family to us. It wouldn't feel complete without you two in it.
You: Mm…
Twilight looked up at me with a smile and nodded in agreement.
You: alright.
As I grabbed Asuna's hand, she immediately pulls me in and wraps her arm around me, my sister still holding me in my chest and Kirito holding her along with me. As I turn my head, I see Yui giving me a smile with tears, showing just how happy she is that I am included in the hug.
Strea: Now this is a family reunion. *she says as she hugs my cheeks*
You: Well, I guess I'll let you have this moment.
Strea: Yay!
We all stay like this for a while and Kirito was the first to brake the silence.
Kirito: so what do we do now?
You: Well… first of all, I need to find the missing piece of my Fluctlight.
Asuna: your missing piece?
You: Yeah, that's actually how we figured out you two were here.
Twilight: wait a sec… by any chance, were you the one who made that weird blasting sound?
You: blasting sound?
Twilight: Asuna and I were just talking when all of a sudden we heard a loud "boom" that came from below us. We then saw a figure that almost immediately fell down before we could see what it was.
You: Hmm… then I guess it was me.
Asuna: how did you even do that?
You: Well… apparently I have super flying speed. So fast in fact, I can break the sound barrier.
Asuna: really? Then that must have been a sonic boom we heard. It is caused by an object moving faster than sound, about 750 miles per hour I believe.
Twilight: that's really fast.
You: well, thanks to that, we were able to find out about this cage. And how we concluded that you two might be here.
Asuna: So you think your missing piece of your fluctlight is here?
You: it should. The reaction was way stronger here.
Quinella's voice: (You!)
You: Huh? Quinella?
Everyone: Quinella?
Quinella's voice: Something is not right! The energy is getting strong, really strong!
You: what does that mean?
Quienlla's voice: I think someone is using its power! You need to get out of there now!
Before I can even react, something happens. Popping sounds and electrical buzzing is heard throughout the cage and the floor forms a strange void and from there.
Asuna: wh-what is happening?!
Kirito: Ghigh!
Twilight: Augh!
You: Igh! What is going on?! I feel… so much pressure…!
The feeling was tight, almost unbreathable, it was like being squashed by an elephant.
Strea: D-Darling! You need to— *she disappears*
You: Strea!
Yui: Mommy, daddy! Something bad is coming— *she disappears*
Kirito and Asuna: Yui!
The floor, the cage and the sky disappear, and all that is left is a dark void.
?: Well, Well, Well…
A voice is heard on the other side and from there, a guy with blond hair, a green robe and golden crown emerges from the dark.
?: I see you two actually made it, turns out I need to power up the fairy knights after all. Thank you for giving me that combat data.
Kirito: Grr! Who the hell are you?
?: Well, that is an interesting question. Asuna, what am I exactly?
Asuna: Igh… Kirito, don't freak out but… he's my fiancé…
Kirito: Uh!
Kirito's eyes widen in shock but the one who was more in shock was myself… because I know him.
You: Fiance… th-that means its you… Suguo…
Suguo: *he wags his finger in disagreement* I'd prefer if you'd call me his highness the great fiary OBERON! *he kicks me*
You: Augh!
Asuna: Leave him alone you coward!
Kirito: wait, you know him (You).
You: I can't say that I knew him, but what I did know… I didn't like.
Oberon: Hmm… tell me something Kirigaya, or would you prefer if I called you Kirito instead. *he grabs his sword* I wonder, how the hell did you two manage to get up here? I may have opened the door for you but I never expected either of you to actually complete my impossible quest.
Kirito: I flew up here, with my wings *he summons his wings*
Oberon: Hmm… alright then, if you won't tell me I'll ask your mind instead.
Kirito: what are you talking about?
Oberon: Oh come on, you didn't think I went through all this trouble just for fun and games, did you? I have all of the two thousand remaining players of SAO under my thumb, along with ALO's as well and thanks to their cooperation, the technology I developed for total emotions and thoughts is 80 percent complete. I am about to achieve what no one has ever done, the power to control a human soul, the power of a god! It's truly marvelous… *he looks at me with a grin* but of course… I would also be needing this…
I could feel his hand go through my pocket and he grabs the cube with my flutclight.
You: H-Hey! That's mine!
Oberon: oh but your wrong! Your parents did instrusted me with it… *he says with a wide grin*
You: uh!
As I heard him say my parents… I knew that this was not good at all. Heck, it was like hearing it was the end of the world.
You: No… you knew about them.
Oberon: to say that I knew about them would not even come close to explaining it! We were all going to change the world, a world with artificial intelligence! A world where AI was actually possible! BUT YOU JUST HAD TO GET IN THE WAY OF THAT YOU FILTHY LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT! *he kicks me again*
You: Augh! AI… I remember my father telling me something about that… what are you even going to do with my fluctlight?
Oberon: the future, (You). I am going to build the future. One day, the deep world of virtual reality will turn into mist. The Nervegear, the Atmosphere, they both surpassed virtual gaming experience but one day they might get outranked by a new set. It could be for gaming or daily life activities. It happened to the phones, who were once a legacy of technology, who got outranked by cell phones. The computers who people treated as alien mechanics, get outranked by scientific computers and laptops. You don't even need a gaming console to play video games anymore. And that's where I come in… *he smiles widely* Instead of having a set that can be outranked, I will outrank it myself. Real artificial intelligence that can understand human emotion and of course *he shows me the cube* have a soul of its own…
You: So… that's what they were planning to do, huh? You think that just because you create an AI that can understand human emotions, plus possess a proper soul, will make you a god?
Oberon: to surpass expectations, it's the ultimate of genius. I wouldn't expect you to understand. That's what the future holds, you can either be part of it, or you can be left behind.
You: Curious… is that what happened to my father? Did he get left behind?
Oberon: Uh-uh-uh, careful with that tone. You seem to be forgetting who your god is here.
You: and it seems that you are forgetting... I am the son of Alsevir Canongo... and I will not let you continue with the project of him or any other member of my deceased family!
Oberon: HAHAHA! And who's gonna stop me? Maybe a god, but there is no god here, is there? Except for yours truly!
Asuna: Grr!
Twilight: you're a monster! How can you do that to him?!
Oberon: Oh, well I know! How about before I start tinkering with your little souls, how about we have a little fun?! *he snaps his fingers*
Chains begin to fall from the roof and they all fall in front of Asuna. Oberon chains her up and he begins levitating the chains. Asuna was held… like I was when my family locked me in that basement… just thinking about that gave me rage.
You: Damn you, you bastard… it's like you're them… just deceased forgotten memories… you just can't stand the thought of someone outranking you, because you're scared…
Oberon: Hmm…
You: don't think I don't know what that's like. My parents were just the same as you, I can actually see why they would like you… YOU ARE ALL DISGRACE TO THE WORLD!
Oberon: Grr! Why don't you whine and cry like the GOOD LITTLE DOG YOU ARE!
Oberon the kicks me so hard, I nearly flew out of the floor.
You: Pugh!
Kirito: (You)! PUGHAAA!
Oberon then stabs Kirito with his own sword and red like particles spill from his mouth, almost like as if it were blood.
Oberon: Now!
Oberon then maximizes the gravity power and Asuna's arms get cut from the chains.
Oberon: Hehe! Yes, you can't make NPC girls do those expressions. *he inspects the cube* its still not a hundred percent full yet, but I can make it work. You'll see… I WILL RECREATE THIS WORLD AND EVERYONE WILL TREAT ME AS A GOD! FAILED, BUT I WON'T! HAHAHAHAHA!
Twilight: Damn you… you're just a filthy pig!
Oberon: And you… *he walks up to her* ARE INSAGNIFACANT!
Oberon then kicks Twilight and she holds her stomach.
Twilight: Augh!
You: KOTAA!
Oberon then grabs Esper.
Oberon: I am rather curious, what is this sword? I tried researching it but nothing came up, just a bunch of words that were incomprehensible. Oh well, why I don't give you a taste of its own medicine!
The same with Kirito, he stabs me in the back with great pressure.
You: Pugha!
Oberon: System command, set pain absorber to 8!
As the pain absorber went down, I felt a massive wave of pain in my back and stomach.
You: AUGH!
Kirito: GHIGH!
I could tell that it was the same for Kirito. i've never felt a pain this great ever since I got slashed from the dragon boss back in the hollow area.
Oberon: Hurts doesn't it, I'll increase the pain gradually to give you two something to look forward to. *he walks up to Asuna*
Oberon begins to run his fingers up to her cloth with a red ribbon holding it together.
You: what are you? Get your hands off her!
Oberon: *he chuckles* I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT! *He rips of her vest*
You: *I close my eyes*
Not wanting to disturb Asuna, I close my eyes to not look at her, but Kirito couldn't look away from the horror he was watching.
Kirito: Asuna!
Asuna: don't worry Kirito… (You)… he can't hurt me, no matter what he does.
Oberon: I was hoping you'd say that. But I wonder how long your pride can last…?
Oberon caressed my head, almost like as if he cut it off, forcing me to look at Asuna.
Oberon: I know just how close you are with him, and that this Kirito boy is your boyfriend. Two boys whom you love dear, watching you in such shameless state…
Oberon was making fun of our friendship and was wanting to ruin it…
You: Asuna… is a girl filled with pride… nothing you can do or say will change that…
Kirito: She is ten times more prideful then you… nothing will ever make me stop loving her!
Twilight: the only reason Asuna doesn't love you… is because you're a lowlife who cannot reach her level of pride!
Oberon: HEHAHAHAHAHA! What performance?! What feeling?! Its like I am watching a movie! Only… there are no heroes here… only a god… LONG LIVE THE KING, OBERON! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
You: Asuna… I am sorry…
Asuna: *she waves her head* it's okay… I'll be okay. *she begins crying*
Oberon: HAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHA!
Oberon smashes my head on the floor and begins licking Asuna's tears like a dog. A sick masochistic dog, having fun playing with her. Touching and kissing her body… making Kirito, Twilight and I scream in rage.
Kirito, Twilight and You: SUGOU!
Feeling immense rage… I pass out… I couldn't remember what happened… all I remembered was a voice.
?: Don't give up!
I knew that voice all too well… it was Quinella's.
Quinella's voice: you mustn't give up (You).
You: But what can I do…? He's the GM and… I am just a player…
Quinella and I weren't speaking with words… it was kind of… telepathically. It was like we could talk without exchanging words.
Quinella: you're not just a player (You). Don't you remember? You're a lost player.
You: Uh…
Quinella: a player that has broken the boundaries of the systems command. A player that even became mortal in this world. The power you unleashed to save and protect your friends is inside you.
You: But… my flutclight was forced out of my body… what can I possibly do?
Quinella: Your fluctlight is not gone (You)… he just toke it.
You: Uh!
Quinella: you know what you must do! Get up and fight! Don't let him control you like your parents did! Show him what you can do! GET UP!
You: *I gasp*
Letting out a loud gasp, I am once again in the void where Oberon is still touching Asuna. He is getting near to raping her.
You: Sugou… you bastard…
Sugou: Hmm?
You: you coward… you immobilize my friend… you kick my sister… and then you assault Asuna… just how low can you get?! GRR! GRIIGH! GRR!
Feeling immense rage, I begin to stand up with my head facing down, my sword still on my torso.
You: *I grab the blade and pull out Esper* pfft… pathetic… the blades in SAO were more hurtful then this. You think you can continue my family's work? You're just another puppet in their game, nothing but lowly scared PUPPET! *I face him*
Oberon: Wh-what the?! What is going on with your eyes? Why are they yellow?
All I could do was stagger towards him…
Oberon: HEHAHAHA! Is this your big plan? Stagger towards me…
Oberon then raised his hand getting ready to slap me… but before he could.
You: *I grab his hand*
Oberon: What?
You: that wasn't my plan… that was my distraction…
Oberon: What?!
As he faces me, I grab hold of my flutclight.
You: this belongs to me… and you have no right to hold it.
As I grab hold of my fluctlight, yellow light begins to surround my body and I am no longer in control of the gravity magic.
Oberon: WH-What?! How are you doing that?! How are you able to withstand my power?!
Oberon then intensifies the barrier but it only makes Kirito, Twilight and Asuna affected.
You: is this your magic… because I'm not feeling anything.
Oberon: No… this is impossible!
Facing Kirito, Asuna and Twilight, I give them a reassuring smile.
You: hold on for a few more minutes guys.
Asuna: Uh… *she smiles*
Twilight: Be careful… brother…
Kirito: Gigh… just make sure to kick his ass!
You: *I nod at Kirito*
Feeling a set of rage and calm, I face Sugou with intense eyes.
You: its time your rule comes to an end.
Oberon: You little punk, you dare talk to me like that! I am this worlds ruler, its king, its god! You are just a pathetic lowlife who cannot even come close to beat me! System command! Generate object! ID Excalibur!
The system then generates a massive golden sword that seemed to be of highquality. No doubt it was a rare item… no, I think it could even be legendary.
Oberon: HEHEHEHE! Lets see just how tough you are when you face MY WRATH! *he snaps his fingers*
With a snap of his fingers, multiple monsters spawn inside the room. I would bet anything that they were high level bosses.
Oberon: HEHEHE! You see?! This world obeys me! And you cant do anything about it!
Oberon, or maybe I should just say Sugou, faced me with a such a proud smile it made me sick… but I wasn't going to let him control me.
You: You and my family were the same… selfish jerks who cared nothing but gaining more money and power!
"SWOOOSH!"
Sugou: GAAAGH!
Everyone: Igh!
I didn't realize it, but my body flashed a bright yellow light that spread throughout the room. As the light flashed through the monsters, they began to behave strangely, they howled and roared with glitch and static noise.
Monsters: GROUUUU-UUU-UUUU-AAAAARR-RAAA- "Poof"
The monsters disappeared in a cloud of smoke and the room was completely clear.
Oberon: WHAT?!
It didn't stop there, the magic circle that forced us to look at the ground also began to behave strangely as it moved out of place with static noise and within a few seconds the circle disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The bright light worked like an EMP wave as it rendered with all the objects around the room, including Oberon.
Oberon: H-HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! THE SYSTEM LISTENS TO ME! "Static" I-I AM ITS RULER! ITS KING! IT'S GOD!
Kirito: No… I don't think so *he says as he gets up* you stole everything from this world, EVERYTHING! Including its people… your nothing but a king of thieves… sitting alone in your stolen throne!
Oberon: Grr! You little punk… you dare talk to me like that! *he cracks his teeth* Alright… I think I've been too merciful with you… SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR BRAIN PREVILAGES YOU PUNKS!
Oberon then summons a set of magical spells, like a multiple chant spell from different elements. As he fires the magic spells, they all fire up like fireworks and aim directly at us.
You: No way! "SWOOOSH!"
Bright light shines through my body and the spells behave the same way as the monsters all glitch out and poof into mist.
Oberon: GRR! STOP MESSING WITH MY COMMANDS YOU BRAT! THIS WORLD OBEYS ME NOT YOU! Do as I say and SURRENDER! *he attempts to summon a magical spell*
…
Nothing happens…
Oberon: GRR! L-L-LISTEN TO ME YOU PIECE OF TRASH! Y-Y-Y-YOUR LORD IS COMMANDING YOU, DO AS I-I-I-I SAYS GODDAMNIT!
Oberon stomps the ground and curses at the system, attempting to grab its attention. His body began getting missed out of place as static surge through his body. It was like seeing a broken record.
You: Sugou… I told you, didn't I? I even warned you that if you even got a single piece of hair off of Asuna's hair… I would show you what I did to my own family… *I grip my sword tighter*
Rage and fury begins to take over me but I try my best to hold back… but the urge to kill him was irresistible.
Oberon: shut up… SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! Your just a punk that doesn't even have any power! YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO LECTURE ME! NO ONE GETS TO OUTBEAT M— Gaaaagh…!
Oberon's eyes widen as a dagger pierces through his back and blood… yes, I mean literal blood leaks from his back.
Oberon: Wh-wh-what… is the meaning… of—?
Twilight: I am sick and tired of listening to you… *she pulls back*
As Twilight pulls her dagger back, blood squirts out from his back and Twilight's face gets splash with a bit of it.
Oberon: AG-GAAAAAAAAAH! WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT IS THIS?! *he says in horror*
Oberon screamed in pain as blood came out from his back and mouth… his body turned physical in the virtual world.
Oberon: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A VIRTUAL WORLD, HOW IS THIS EVEN HAPPENING?!
Kirito: hurts, doesn't it? But it's nothing compared to the pain you made Asuna feel… *he grabs his sword* NOT EVEN CLOSE!
Kirito leaped towards Oberon but before he could slash him…
You: Kirito no! *I stop him* you have a wife and daughter to protect… I won't let you dirty your hands. Besides… he is a friend of my father… this is family business.
Kirito: (You…)
Twilgith: Brother *she gets in front of me* brother, I… you don't…
You: *I move her aside* close your eyes…
Twilight: Mm…
Asuna: (You…) don't…
Gripping my sword a lot tighter… black aura surrounds my sword and my body… Rage… sadness and guilt is all I could feel…
You: Grr… rage…
Oberon: Ghigh! G-G-GET AWAY FROM ME! "Static"
Oberon begged me with tears and snot coming out of his face… it was such a pathetic sight… death it what he deserved… after torturing Kirito… kicking my sister and assaulting Asuna…
You: Death… despair…
My voice sounded deeper and demonic… the black aura began to surround the room and my eyes were just facing Oberon… no, not Oberon… Sugou…
You: Rage… sadness…
He deserves to die… he deserves pain… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him… Kill him…
You: Rage… despair…
Sugou: G-Get away from me… STAY AWAY FROM ME!
You: GAAAGH! *I slash his hand*
As I slash his hand, blood drips from his wrist as the floor gets covered in it.
Sugou: A-AAAAAAAGH! MY HAND, MY HAND!
Sugou backed up in fear and pain, it was so satisfying seeing him scream in pain… he made the people I care about suffer… so WHY SHOULDN'T HE!
You: GEAAAAAGH! RAAAAAAAAGH! GEAAAAAAAAARRR!
Like a maniac, I slash through his body over and over again, the floor getting soaked in a pool of blood.
You: DIIIEEEEE! *I slash through his head*
As I slash through his head, Sugou's body falls down still dripping out a pool of blood and as I grab Sugou's head… tears and snot covered his face as blood leaks from his neck… a gruesome scene indeed…
You: Grrr... long live the king... *I say with a demonic voice*
I throw his head in the air…
Sugou: Wh-WhooaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGHH— AAAaugh…
My sword goes through his right eye... blood drips from my sword and it covers my arm… his head leaking out blood like a fountain… it was over…
You: GEAAAAAAGH! *I throw his head to his body*
A sorry excuse of a human being… laying down lifeless on the floor… there was no doubt about it… he was dead… and I had a feeling that it was not just in ALO… I also believed that he was dead in real life…
The horrible feelings I had begun to fade away and I could also see the black aura vanishing away from the room and my body…
You: "Pant…" "Pant" its over…
As I look up… I saw Kirito covering my sister's eyes as she whimpered behind his hands… Asuna shivering and crying as the chains hold her tight… Kirito looking at me with a worried expression…
I felt like I lost them… I couldn't even bring myself to look at them so… I grabbed my sword…
You: Mm… HMPH! *I throw my sword*
As I throw my sword, it cuts through the chains and Asuna is free…
Kirito: Igh! Asuna! *he catches her*
I could hear Asuna crying in Kirito's shoulders as Twilight also joins in on they're hug…
I couldn't hear what they were saying, all I could do was look at the pool of blood that were covering my knees and hands… it was like my younger self… watching the house and family I destroyed years ago…
You: its like I am never free no matter where I go… wherever I go… they follow me…
Laughter is what I could hear… the laughter of my evil family… haunting and cursing me… blood dripping from my hands and anger eating me alive…
You: No… stop it… leave me alone…
I was losing my sanity... I didn't know what to do… I was scared and didn't know what to do…
You: *tears fall down from my face* Stop it… leave me alone…
My body felt cold… and my hands were shaking… my head was spinning and I tried to get a hold of myself… but the blood covered my face and all I could see was red.
You: No… stop it… I am not a monster… I AM NOT A MONSTER!
Voices: you belong to us…
You: No…
Voices: Hahaha! You enjoy killing… let yourself run wild…
You: No… STOP IT! LEAVE ME ALONE!
"Swooosh…"
You: Huh…?
I felt cold but… all of a sudden… I felt warmth…
You: What…?
As I tilted my head… I saw ginger colored hair covering my face and warm arms holding my neck.
You: Asuna…?
As Asuna held me… I could see a smile form on her face…
Asuna: Calm down… I'm here for you…
You: No… stay away from me… *I say as I attempt to push her away* I'm a monster… I hurt you…
Asuna: no you didn't… *she says as she holds me tighter* you saved me… both in game and in real life…
You: No… No I didn't. I just freed you… I didn't save you, Kirito is your real hero… I am just a monster.
Asuna: you know… I wanted him to die too.
You: Mm…
Asuna: Seeing his face… even now I… you're not alone (You).
Asuna moved my face to see her eyes… it was a smile I didn't deserve and yet…
You: Asuna… why? I don't understand…
Asuna: I have faith in you… that's why *she smiles and giggles* and its not just me.
As she turns around, I see Kirito giving me a smile and Twilight…
Twilight: Brother! *she hugs me*
You: Wh-Whoa there! *I say as I catch her*
Twilight: it's okay… it's okay… you're not alone… *she faces me* look at me.
My little sister's face… was also covered in blood, as much as her palms…
You: Twilight! *I wipe her face* my god, look at you. I'm sorry, I wish I… I could've—
Twilight: No… it was my choice, I am much to blame here.
Kirito: Besides... *he approaches* I would have done the same whether you had intervened or not.
Seeing their smiles… smiles I did not even deserve and yet… what is wrong with these people? Am I crazy or…? I didn't know what to think back then… I was just so confused.
You: I… I don't know what to say…
Asuna: just promise that you'll keep fighting… for Koharu, your sister and everyone else. It would break our hearts to know that you'd given up.
You: Igh…
No longer being able to hold my tears, I begin sobbing with my sister still holding my chest. Asuna still holding me close to her beside the fact that she was half naked and Kirito holding my shoulder… I really thought that I lost myself… but somehow, I found myself again… what would I have come to if it were not for them…
Idiot, I still haven't lost. I can still make this right… I just need to keep fighting to stop this madness. Quinella said that this was just the beginning and I am not going to let whatever evil it is lurking in these worlds get away with it… which is why…
You: "Sniff" you guys are right…
As I take off my coat and give it to Asuna, I stand up and walk towards my sword… still covered in blood from stabbing Sugou in his right eye.
You: my hands may not be clean… *I swing my sword and get the blood off* but I can still fight.
The three of them looked at me with approved grins and just when I was about to walk back.
"Jingle"
You: Hmm?
I felt a spark nearby… I looked down and saw Sugou's fairy king crown.
You: Hmm… *I pick up the crown* could it be…
Using both of my hands, I begin bending the crown with all my strength until eventually.
"Crack!"
The crown breaks into pieces and from there, a faint shine of yellow light emerges from the crown and hovers in front of my face.
?: You did it, you were able to find me… keep looking, only three more to go…
The light then floats into my pocket and I grab the cube in where it stores itself.
You: Don't worry… I am getting the hang of this.
Kirito: was that…?
You: Yup… I found the missing piece of my fluctlight.
Twilight: So we found Asuna and this fluctlight thing.
Asuna: Yeah but… what do we do now?
"Crack…"
The sound of a tiny crack was heard somewhere around the room.
Asuna: Huh? Did you guys hear that?
Twilight: Up there!
Twilight pointed at the ceiling where a tiny crack was visible. After a few seconds, the crack spreads throughout the room and begins shine a bright white light.
Everyone: Igh!
The bright light blinded us and as it settled down… the room changed back into the cage.
You: Igh… my eyes…
Asuna: is… everyone alright?
Twilight: Yeah… it looks like were back in the cage.
A bright light shined above us and from there, Yui and Strea popped up.
Yui: Daddy!
Strea: Darling!
Yui hugged Kirito and Strea hugged me.
Kirito: Yui, you're okay!
You: and Strea… your still a pixie.
Strea: Wha?! Is that all you haft to say to me?!
You: I'm kidding… I'm glad you're safe.
Strea: Haa… *she smiles brightly* thank goodness… you guys are safe…
Yui: Mommy!
Asuna: Yui! *they both hug each other* thank goodness you're alive.
Yui: Yup. I hid myself inside the local data of uncle's nervegear rig. And Strea was—
Strea: Uh!
Yui: Oh uh… I mean… Strea was somehow transported over with me and I hid her account data within uncle's nervgear rig so she was also safe.
For some reason, I had a feeling that Yui knew something about Strea that we didn't know but was not telling us for some reason.
You: Hmm…
Strea looked at me with a worried expression, fearing like if I may not believe her story.
You: Hmm… well, if its what you say what happened.
Strea: *she breathes a sigh of relief*
Asuna: So what now?
You: Well… *I walk up in front* while although we got my flutclight back, this wasn't exactly a win. Sugou's work will be passed on to someone else once they find out that he is dead. I am pretty sure they will take extreme measures to insure that this incident goes anonymous. Sugou said that they are making this research to recreate Artificial intelligence with actual human thoughts and emotions along with an actual human soul… there is no telling what might they do if they succeed. My parents said something about creating an army and I have a feeling that this army could be close to impossible to beat…
Feeling determined and nervous, I turn around and face them.
You: whatever this plan is, we need to stop it and destroy it. I have a feeling that in order to stop this plan, we need to collect all the missing pieces of my flutclight. Whatever research my father implanted on it, it could be disastrous. So we are going to search high and low for the remaining integral fragments and bring a stop to this project and these plans, once and for all!
To be continued...